Rankin County Switches to Verity Voting System from Hart InterCivic

BRANDON, Miss., Dec. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Rankin County is scrapping outdated voting equipment in favor of Hart InterCivic's Verity® Voting system, the most technologically advanced election system in the U.S. – and one that is certified by the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). With about 86,000 registered voters, Rankin is the first county in Mississippi to upgrade to the easy-to-use Verity system. The county plans to start training staff and poll workers next month.

After a thorough evaluation process, the selection committee's decision to choose Verity was unanimous. Hart stood out in the bidding process; versatile Verity technology allows counties to choose between electronic and paper ballot configurations.

In 2017, Rankin County voters will cast their votes by scanning their marked paper ballots in the polling place. This marks a shift from the electronic voting method the county has used for more than 10 years. Hart's 100+ years of election experience and its expertise in the change management methods needed to transition to new voting technology were factors in the county's decision.

"We look forward to working with Rankin County not as just a vendor, but as a partner," said Phillip Braithwaite, President and CEO of Hart InterCivic. "We see growing interest in Mississippi in the efficiency and transparency Verity brings to the election process. We are committed to the success of elections in Rankin County and across the state."

With Rankin's selection of Verity, Mississippi becomes the sixth state in the U.S. to adopt this forward-looking technology. The system includes ADA-compliant features that enable all voters to vote privately and independently. Other features that caught decision-makers' eyes include:

• Easy-to-use scanning and ballot marking for voters
• Powerful new election management software for increased efficiency and security
• Compact, lightweight briefcase-style machines, saving storage space
• Efficient transport, set-up and take-down at precincts
• First-class training and support

Another Verity advantage may not be as visible, but is critical to Rankin County. Verity enables straightforward import of data from the state election management system, making the process of building ballots much easier for election workers. It also automates the transmission of election results for state reporting.

Based in Austin, Texas, Hart currently provides election solutions to more than 560 jurisdictions nationwide, including the State of Oklahoma, the State of Hawaii and two of the five largest counties in the nation — Harris County, Texas, and Orange County, California.

Learn more about the Verity Voting system: www.hartintercivic.com/verityoverview.

About Hart InterCivic, Inc. 

Austin-based Hart InterCivic is a full service election solutions innovator, partnering with state and local governments to deliver secure, accurate and reliable elections. Working side-by-side with election professionals for more than 100 years, Hart is committed to helping advance democracy one election at a time. Hart's mission fuels passionate customer focus and a continuous drive for technological innovation. The new Verity Voting system makes voting more straightforward, equitable and accessible—and makes managing elections more transparent, more efficient and easier.

SOURCE Hart InterCivic

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http://www.hartintercivic.com